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Russell POV

I sat on the chair opposite Lorenzo, playing chess. It has been my favorite game since childhood; I loved the tension that hung around trying to keep your king alive.

Lorenzo stared at the board with split eyes and a furrowed brow. “I won’t be home tonight,” he says as he moves his knight towards my side.

Ordinarily, I would have called him a twat. That one action had made him lose his game.

“Why? We are meant to plan against the crescent pack. They attacked our workers last time if you can remember,” I say and move my pawn to the middle side.

He nods his head as he moves his knight forward. “I remember, Russell, but my mate needs me. I haven’t been able to spend quality time with her and she is not happy about it,” he explained, his eyes still on the board.

I roll my eyes in anger. Ever since Lorenzo found his mate, it has always been “my mate this,” “Izzie said,” “ wants this or that,” and it was getting tiring.

He found it hard to say no to her. Something I was not comfortable with. He was gradually becoming weak, and it was not good for me or the pack. After all, he was going to be my beta after my father died.

“Common man, tell her no. Give her some random excuse and then end it with a sorrowful emotional note. She will agree. They are women, after all,” I said, trying to make him see reason with me. Something I knew would not work.

He scoffed and leaned back into his chair to stare at me. “She is not just any woman, Russell. She is my mate. I can’t refuse her,” he said and paused, taking a gulp of the glass of tequila that was by his side.

“You won’t understand. You have never had a mate or decided to commit to a girl before,” he added and drank the remaining wine.

I rolled my eyes in anger. Why does everyone keep telling me that I need a mate?

For me, the moon goddess knew how cruel men would be and decided to create a version of herself and plant some weakness into our hearts toward only one girl.

She strangely had to decide who it was. That was the only explanation one could give me. Especially with the rapid change in Enzo since he found his mate. He was no longer the tough guy who killed at sight.

Imagine my surprise when we caught a traitor and wanted to kill him. I called Enzo to give him the most brutal death. Something he usually enjoyed only for him to give me an excuse that pissed the hell out of me. “Izzie does not like me coming home with bloodstains on my clothes,” he said and left.

If this was how weak mates made people be, then I sure as hell don’t want a mate.

“Oh please! I am not going to have my mate. I can’t become a weakling like you,” I scoffed.

He smiled lightly and stood up, walking towards me. “Love is the greatest strength one can have,” he said, tapping my shoulders and leaving.

I did not bother asking him where he was going, as I was pretty sure it was to go and see Izzie.

“Tell Linda I want her in my room now!” I ordered. One guard left to inform Iinda, my special whore.

I liked her mentality a lot and if I wanted a mate, it would be someone like her, although not a whore.

She understood me and acted accordingly. “I give her protection. She gives me good sex anytime I need it”

I walked into my room and locked the door behind me.

She sat on the bed wearing only a pant and bra and a light robe that showed her inside.

I dragged on my clothes, watching her as she stared seductively at me.

Immediately, I was completely naked. I leaned forward, claiming her mouth in a lustful kiss as my hands traveled down her hole. She moaned loudly as I shoved my hands deeper into her hole.

“Russell..” She moaned messily just the way I liked it. A woman should not be able to control herself when I touch her.

I felt a grip on my hand, making me stop. I looked at her lust filled with eyes.

“Why did you stop me, Linda?” I growled.

“Promise me this will continue even after your mating ceremony,” she said in a low whisper as her hands drew lines around my back.

I furrowed my eyebrow. “Mating ceremony?”

“Yes,” she replied as her hands traveled to my dick. “She said, ‘Your father is holding a mating ceremony for you.’”

“What the hell” I muttered as I forcefully removed my fingers from her hole. She gasped, surprised at my action.

How on earth would my father organize a mating ceremony for me without my consent?

I quickly got dressed and made my way towards my father's chambers, where he had been for the past month seriously sick.

“Father!” I shouted immediately. I got to the room, and my veins threatened to burst with anger.

“How the hell would you organize a mating ceremony without letting me know?” I asked, pacing around the room, trying so hard to pacify my anger.

His maid helped him to sit upright. He waved his hands, and she left, leaving the room that was filled with the warmth of my range.

“Russell, you need it,” came his croaked voice.

“Have I failed you in any way, father?” I inquired, returning the spiteful glare.

“No”

“Ever since you fell, have I let any of our enemy attack and go scot-free?” I asked again.

“No”

“Then why do I need a mate? I can rule the entire pack without a mate. Maybe it is that the moon goddess or whatever you call her does not want me to have a mate.”

A glint of anger flashed through his eyes. “Now listen to me, Russell,” he said in a stern voice.

“Firstly, do not address the moon goddess disrespectfully, or she will get angry and strike us, and you are soon going to be an alpha. You need a mate to be by your side. A mate is a symbol of your strength”

I balled my hands into a fist and shoved it down my pocket. “Oh, please spare me that. We both know I am feared amongst all the wolf packs. I don’t need the presence of a woman to let the world know that I am powerful,” I fervently argued.

“You are going to find your mate this weekend, and you are going to get married to her as soon as possible, and that is final,” he said with finality.

“Fine! But know this, even though I find a mate, I will reject her immediately,” I said with a sneer.

“You will do no such thing!” He shouted and then coughed.

I mockingly bowed my head. With a smile, I said to him, “Be my guest.”

“Russell!” He shouted as I slammed the door behind me.

Woe betides the girl whom the moon goddess would choose to be my mate, for she would wish she was never born.